Axle construction.



Patented May 29, 1917'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

P. EVANS.

AXLE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION HLED fB.2,19|4.

wifi/66565., M Z4 `:POWELL EVANS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AXLE CONSTRUCTION.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented May'29, 1917.

Application led February 28, 1914. Serial No. 821,664.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, POWELL EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Axle Construction, of which the following is a specification.

One object ofmy invention` is to provide a form of axle particularly adapted for use in connection with motor trucks, which shall include a universal joint mechanism designed to permit of a predetermined amount of movement of the axle before the springs are compressed or otherwise brought into action, the invention particularly contemplating an arrangement of parts which shall primarily be simple, substantial and efficient, as well as reliable under operating conditions.

A further object of the invention isto provide a novel combination of primary and secondary axles interposed between the wheels of a vehicle and the vehicle body and frame.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure ashereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which j Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating an axle constructed according to my invention and showing its posi'- tion relatively to the associated parts;

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections taken respectively on the lines aand b-Z), Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating a modied form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line c--c, Fig. 4. l

In Figs.` l to 3 of the above drawings, l represents the axle proper, which consists of a steel forging having comparatively straight end portions and a downwardly bowed middle portion of substantially rectangular section. In the drawings I have shown double tire wheels 2 as mounted on the axle, and have illustrated them as each provided with a driving sprocket 3. The springs on which the body or any other desiredlportion of the truck or vehicle is supported, are indicated at 4, and while I have shown them aslaminated, it is obvious that they may be made in any suitable form, without departing from my invention.

For operatively connecting these springs to the axle, I provide a steel saddle casting 5 in the form of two substantially parallel downwardly, bowed side plates Gunited by va longitudinally extending late 8 and each The two springs 4 are hung from theV plates 7 by U-shaped clamps 9, which extend around them and have threaded ends passing through said plates Vfor the reception of nuts 10. Any end thrust of the saddle is taken by a pair of U-shapedthrust plates ll, which are mounted in an inverted position upon the axle l slightly over or to one side of the springs 4 and so placed that their free ends extend respectively adjacent the ends of the spring-engaging plates 7 of the side members 6.

For holding these thrust-receiving members rigidly to the axle, I connect the parallel arms of each of them by a bolt l2 which firmly clamps them in any desired position upon the axle. Between each of these thrustreceiving members and the sprocket 3 I mount upon the axle a collar 13 for the attachment of one of the radius rods, in the v present instance also placing a bearing ring or washer between each collar and the adjacent thrust-receiving member ll.

Under conditions of operation, it will be understood that the springs 4 and consequently the part of the truck carried by them, has a limited universal movement relatively to the wheels 2, for obviously the axle is free to rotate to a greater or less extent relatively to the wheels, and the curved plate 8 of the saddle is likewise free to roll later allyto a limited extent on the axle, as well as to move sidewise. 'Moreoven it will be noted that this substantially universal movement occurs before either ofthe springs is brought into action, since obviously one end of the axle would have to be lowered or drop until its under surface engaged the top surface of a spring 4 before the latter could be compressed.

In that form of my invention illustrated' yin Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, I have shown a saddle member which, while including side plates 6a and two connecting plates or mem;- bers 8a, does not bear directly upon the axle but is connected thereto by a horizontal bolt 15 extending between the uppel1 part of the side plates 6a at a point midway between the springs 4 together with a sleeve 16, journaled on said bolt and provided with a pin 17 extending into a vertical hole in the center of the axle 1. As before, the saddle 5a is provided with spring-engaging platesy 7a connected to the springs 4 by clamping shackles 9.

Whilein the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive the saddle or secondary axle 5 has a limited movement laterally or pivotally upon the primary axle 1 by reason of its loose fitk and line contact, as shown in Fig. 2, in that form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive the pintle 17 of the sleeve 16 forms a true pivotalconnection for permitting a generally horizontal movement between the primary and secondary axles limited by the clearance between the side member 6a and the secondary axle, and while in Figs. 1 to 3 a true rolling action is' possible between the primary and secondary axles, in the other form of my invention the movement is a pivotalr one. In any case, however, the construction is such thatthere is practically a universal movement possible between the secondary axle and the wheels, and the parts are so designed that the springs are not compressed until the primary axle has so far turned on its pivot 15 or on the rolling plate 8 as to permit one side lor the other to actually strike the top s'urface'of the spring 4.

I claim 1. The combination of an axle; a member elongated in the general line of said axle to constitute a saddle and formed to have a limited universal connection with the axle; and a structure to be supported including members extending under the axle in engagement with the ends of the saddle.

2. The combination of an axle; structures tobe supported; with a saddle elongated in" the general line of the axle supporting said structures adjacent its ends and having a portion movably engaging and curved to roll upon said axle.

3., The combination of an axle; a structure including springs to be supported; and Va laterally elongated member constituting a saddle 'having its ends respectively connected to the springs and including a portion curved to move upon the axle.

4. The combination of an axle with an elongated bar, extending in the general line thereof, said bar including a curvedportion in rolling engagement with the axle and having forked ends extending on opposite sides of' the latter.

5. The combination of an axle having a concave upper face and a laterally elongated bar constituting a saddle structure extending substantially in the line of the axle and provided with a-convex' face free to rock upon said concave face of the axle.

6. The combination of axle; a saddle including side plates adjacenty the opposite i sides of the axle; and a cross member having alimited universal connection with said axle.

`7. The combination of an axle; a saddle extending substantially parallel with said axley and movably engaging the same; with thrust members carried by the'axle andv extending in positions to be engaged by the ends of the saddle.

8. The combination of an axle having a portion of its top surface curved; with an elongated bar constituting a saddle having a curved portion adjacent its middle engaging the curved part of the axle so as' to be capable of rolling thereon.

9. The combination of an axle having a downwardly bowed centraly portion; with a saddle consisting of anl elongated member extending in the general line of theaxle and including a f convex' portion movably engaging said downwardly curved portion `ofthe axle. 1

10. The combination of an axle having its central portion `downwardly bowed; with a saddle consisting of members on opposite sides' of the axle and* aE transverse prtion connecting said members, said connecting portion having its lower f'ace convexly curved to roll upon the top surface ofthe bowed portion of the axle.`

11. The combination yof springs; a ksaddle having plates at its opposite ends; means for supporting the springs from said plates; and an axle having' a` portion movably engaged by the saddle, the latter being curved to have a limited'rolli-ng motion upon said axle.

12. The combination of an axle; a saddle consisting of ka cross member and two side members, the latter extending onV opposite sides of the axle and the cross member being curved to roll on said axle; a plate at each end of each of the side members of the saddle; springs; means for connecting said springs tothe`saddle plates; with U-shaped thrust members Vfixed to the axle and each extending into position to be engaged by two `adjacent ends of the saddle side members.

13. In a road vehicle having a body thev neeted adjacent its ends to the vehicle body, said secondary axle having a limited universal motion Connection With said primary axle.

14. In a road vehicle the combination of road-engaging Wheels; a primary axle supported by the Wheels; and a load-supporting secondary axle having a limited universal motion connection with said primary axle; with thrust members on the primary axle placed to limit the longitudinal move ment of the secondary axle relatively thereto.

POWELL EVANS.

Witnesses :I

WILLIAM E. BRADLEY, WM. A. BARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

